New self-sterilising plastic in development

Surface disinfection across healthcare is paramount to ensure the safety of both the staff and patient. The main clinical issue is respiratory borne viruses spread by coughing, sneezing, or talking which produces small water droplets which can travel meters away and be inhaled. When these droplets fall on surfaces this can “facilitate the subsequent transmission of these and other infectious virus particles, usually via hand to face contact.” One such virus is SARS-CoV-2 which research has shown can survive on surfaces for up to 72 hours.

To curb surface transmission the team sought to develop a coating which would actively sterilise viruses. Plastic films were created using low density polyethylene (LDPE) powder and P25 TiO2 nanoparticles and then ‘activated’ with UV radiation.